Toy house



Filed Apri 20, 1954 INVENTOR F. MALLGRAF mam TOY HOUSE 3 Shefs-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY FERm/NH/vu Muse/#- zmmm F. MALLGRAF Nov. 5, 1935.

TOY HOUSE Filed April 20, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 INVENTOR FERU/NHN 'WLLE'RHF ATTORNEY 5, 1935; F, MALLGRAF 2,020,196

TOY HOUSE Filed April 20, 1934 3 Sheets Sheet 5 'I NVENTOR FIERn/NHNU .MaLLsRHF BY M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in toy or doll houses, and the principal general object of my present invention is to provide a collapsible toy or doll house which can be readily collapsed into fiat position to occupy. very little storage and shipping space, and which can be readily extended to form a house of substantial rigidity.

In practicing my present invention, I prefer to construct the house of cardboard or heavy paper of appreciable thickness, or the like, capable of being creased and folded whereby the houses are relatively light in weight. It is not, however, absolutely necessary to utilize cardboardor pae per exclusively, because other materials can be used to form the various walls, roofs, etc., by hingedly connecting them for relative movement when collapsing or extending the structure.

As will hereinafter be pointed out, the invention may be practiced in connection with houses of various sizes and styles, and in one of its aspects the invention-resides in the provision of a plurality of relatively small collapsible houses which may be compactly packaged and when unpacked and extended arranged to form a village. In this connection it is also possible to utilize the wrapper for the relatively small houses as a fiat base on which to arranged the houses in extended position to form the village.

' All of the objects and advantages of the inven tion will be specifically pointed out during the course of the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a collapsible doll house constructed in accordance with my invention and illustrating the arrangement of toy furniture therein;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the house shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the house shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the house shown in Fig. 1 in collapsed position; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating. the house partly extended and showing the relative movement of" parts of the house during the col- Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig.10 is a plan view of the blank from thehouse of Fig. 8 is formed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a group of min- 5 iature houses similar to Fig. 8 arranged on a folder or wrapper to simulate a village;

Fig. 12 is a view similarto Fig. 11 showing one of the miniature houses collapsed and arranged on one of the sections of the wrapper;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a group of the miniature houses collapsed and stacked and held within the wrapper to form a complete package;

Fig. '14 is a perspective view' of another miniature house or building showing a further modi- 15 fication of the invention; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the house shown in Fig. 14 partially collapsed.

Referring first to Figs. 1-6, the numeral I designates the front of the house which is one panel 20 of a strip of cardboard or similar material creased at 2 and 3 to'form the front corners of the house between the front I and the ends 4 and 5. The blank is also creased at 6 at the other end of the side 4, and at 'I at the other side of the end 2,5 5. The ends of the said blank overlap at 8 to form the back wall 9 coextensive with the front wall I and located between the creases 6 and I. The overlapping ends of the wall 9 may be secured together by any suitable means as pres- 30 ently described.

As shown best in Figs. 4-6 another blank or strip of a width corresponding substantially to the length of the walls I and 9, is secured to the interior of the rear wall 9 by staples I0 which 5 also pass through the overlapping ends 8 of the first blank. This portion of the second blank which is secured to the rear wall is designated by the reference character II, and a crease I2 is provided between the portion II and the upper 40 end I3 of said blank adjacent the top of the rear wall 9. The said end I3 is secured to one portion I4 of the roof of the house by staples or rivets I5. The roof is creased longitudinally at its center along line I6, and the other half ll of the roof is secured adjacent its front end to the other end I8 of the second blank by rivets or staples I9. A crease 20 similar to the crease I2 is provided along the second blank dividing the end I8 from the wall 2| and permitting relative movement therebetween. A crease 22 is provided at the lower end of the wall 2| hingedly connecting it with the bottom 23 of the second blank, which when the house is extended forms the floor therewhich of. It will be noted that the bottom 23, defined by creases 22 and 24, is of substantially the same width as the ends 4 and 5 of the structure. The crease 24 and the crease 25 provide a portion 26 of the rear wall of the second blank movable with the bottom during unfolding and folding of the blanks as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that the roof is wider than the ends and longer than the front and back of the house so that it projects marginally therebeyond, as shown best in Figs. 3 and 5, the projecting portions simulating the eaves of a roof, and one of the projecting portions affording a grip for movement of the second blank and roof into the first blank during extending movement of the structure, as well as out of the first blank during collapsing movement, as hereinafter pointed out. Furthermore, the tops of the end panels 4 and 5 are mitered, providing as indicated at 21, a substantially triangular top to the said ends above a line on the panels which coincides with the top edges of the front and back panels. When the house is extended and the roof folded along the crease IS, the portions l4 and I! of the roof rest on the tops of the portions 21, and of course extend outwardly therebeyond.

On the exterior of the wall 5, there is secured a rectangular foldable tubular chimney 28 which is shown in Figs. 2 and 5 as extending from the bottom of the wall upwardly beyond its top and located centrally of the wall 5, so that the crease IS in the roof, when the house is extended, coincides substantially with the center of the chimney. The roof is provided with a notch 29 in its edge which extends beyond the wall 5, the notch coinciding substantially with the dimensions of the chimney 28 to snugly receive the chimney when the house is in extended position.

The house may be provided with openings W representing windows, and an opening D representing a door through which the interior of the house is visible. If such openings are on the front I, then the panel 2| would be provided with corresponding openings, of which D in Fig. 6 represents the one which would coincide with the opening D when the panel 2| is located within the house when it is extended; and openings W are also provided in the panel 2| to coincide with the openings W when the house is extended, the openings W are shown in Fig. 4. The end 4 of the house is also provided with an enlarged opening through which access may be had to the interior of the house to place doll furniture therein.

The houses constructed in accordance with the disclosure of Figs. 1-6 would be sold in the manner shown in Fig. 4, that is, in collapsed form, with the roof flat, the panel 2| disposed thereon, and the panel 23 also disposed partly against the roof and partly against the parts H, I3. Thus, the parts M, II, 2|, 23 and H, which in extended position form a horizontally disposed tubular structure may be flatly collapsed in one direction, while the parts 4, and 9 which in extended position form a vertically disposed tubular structure, may be collapsed in another direction with the panel I overlying the panel 5, part of the panel 9, and the panel 4 overlying part of the panel 9. Also, the rectangular chimney may be flattened by folding on diagonally opposite creases.

To extend the house to the position of Fig. 1, it is simply necessary to push in opposite directions on the creases 3 and 6 of the collapsed house, whereby the panels I, 4, 5, 9, will form a tubular substantially rectangular structure. The portion I? of the roof is then grasped and pulled downwardly as shown in Fig. 6 with the panel 2| moving toward the front panel I and the portion 26 shifting on the creases 24, 25, until the projecting portions of the roof, with the chimney disposed in the notch 29, meet the edges of the triangular tops 21 of the ends. The house will then be in the 5 position shown in Fig. 5, with the floor or bottom 23 disposed horizontally. At this time the strip 26 is abutting against the lower portion of the rear panel 9, and the crease 24 has swung through an arc until it is disposed at the lower ends of the panel 9. During the extending movement, the crease 24 and portion 26 swing through an arc with the crease 25 serving as a center or pivot. This permits the panel 2| and the bottom panel 23 to move without binding against front I, and also permits the notch 29 to be cleared over the chimney and to move down therealong to the position of Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This interlocking engagement of the chimney and notch assists in maintaining the house in extended position and imparting thereto substantial rigidity, which is enhanced also by the frictional engagement between the panels 2| and I and the edges of the panels 23 and 2| with panels 4 and 5. Of course when the house is extended, the openings W and D in the panel 2| coincide with the openings W and D in the panel if such openings are provided. It is of course possible to represent the windows and doors by painting the same on the structure instead of cutting them out if desired.

To collapse the house, it is simply necessary to grasp the portion l8 which constitutes the front eave, or to push on the bottom panel 23 to swing the roof and panels 2| and 23 upwardly. When the panels 2| and 23 are flat against the parts I1, I4, I the panels of the first blank, that is, 4 and 5 are swung on creases 3 and 5 to flatten the structure and return it to the position of Fig. 4.

In Fig. '7, the structure is substantially the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1-6 and 40 the parts designated by primed numerals indicate the same unprimed parts as Figs. l-6, with the exception of the door and window which are given no reference characters in Fig. 7. As previously mentioned, the design, size and shape of the houses may vary considerably, and in Fig. 'I the house is shown as having only one door and one window. Of course, there would be an opening corresponding to opening 0 of Fig. 1 in one of the ends of the house of Fig. 7. The chimney 28 may, as shown, be attached to the interior of the end 5 and be relatively short since it is visible only above the roof of the house. In such case, instead of providing the notch in the edge of the roof to receive the chimney as in Fig. 1, I provide an opening 30 of substantially the same crosssectional area as the chimney 28 and through which the chimney 28' projects when the house is in extended position. In the modification being described, the chimney 28 serves the same pur-' poses as in Fig. 1, namely, to assist in holding the structure in extended position and to add attractiveness and completeness to the appearance of the house. Of course since the structures are otherwise identical the manner of collapsing the structure and extending it would be the same as previously described.

In Fig. 8, I have shown a house which may be constructed from the single blank of Fig. 10, and wherein the numeral 3| designates one of the panels of the blank to form the rear wall of the house. The ends of the house 32 and 33 are mitered at their tops as designated by the numeral 34, and the ends 32 and 33 are swingably connected to the panel 3| by creases 35 and 36 will be retained within the folded base.

respectively. One of the ends, in Fig. 10 the end 33, has swingably connected thereto, a panel 31 by a crease 38, the panel 31 being of the same dimensions as the panel 3| and forming the front of the house. A tab 39 is formed on the free end of the panel 31 for connection with the end 32 when the blank is extended. Obviously by folding the ends 32 and 33 along the creases 35 and 35 toward each other, and at right angles to the panel 3i, and't'nen folding the panel 3'5 along crease 38 until it is substantially parallel with the panel 31, a tubular structure providing thefront, back and ends of the house is formed, and when the tab 39 is adhesively connected tothe end 32 as shown in Fig. 9, the several panels will he maintained connected for collapsing and extending movement along the creases. A roof R is connected tothe panel 31 along crease iii, and in-' cisions ii are made between the ends 32 and 33 .ld. the roof. The roof R is creased along its center at 62. A panel 43, which corresponds to the part 21 of Fig. 6, is swingably connected to the roof R along a crease M; and it is also connected by-a crease tdto the bottom B. Another tab 46 is carried by the bottom 3 for attachment to the rear panel 3%, as shown in Fig. 9, the tab being secured adjacent the top of the panel 31 to permit free swinging movement of the panel 43 relative to the panel 221 when extending and collapsing the house. Since the house being described is one of the miniature houses previously mentioned, the fact that the floor or bottom slants is immaterial. When the tabs 39 and 46 have been attached respectively to the end 32 and the panel 3!, as shown in Fig. 9, the house may be collapsed similarly to the house described in Figs. 1-6 to assume the position shown in Fig. 12 which corresponds to the position of the house shown in Fig. 4. The collapsing and extending of the house of Fig. 8 is done in the same manner as previously described in connection with the house of Figs. 1-6.

Since the miniature houses are provided to permit the forming of a miniature village, I propose to also provide a wrapper for them which can be utilized as a base on which the houses can be arranged. Such a Wrapper is shown in Figs. 11-13 as comprising a sheet ofcardboard longitudinally across which are formed parallel creases All, and a transverse crease 38. The space between the creases 'l may represent a street, and the four blocks or corners as marked off by the intersecting creases may also be marked to represent pavements if desired, as by lines 58. The dimensions of each of the blocks or corners 49 are slightly greater than the dimensions of the miniature houses when collapsed, as shown in Fig. 12, wherein one of the collapsed houses is arranged on one of the blocks. In packaging the miniature houses, the base is folded upon itself along the crease d8, as shown in Fig. 12, and as many of the houses as are to be furnished are then stacked on one of the blocks 49, and the base is then folded up along one of the creases ll and down on the other one to the position shown in Fig. 13 like a book. A button or paper disc 53 may be attached to the back of the blank, and a string 55 attached at one end to the disc or button is passed longitudinally and transversely around the package and its free end is then secured under the disc or button, so that the houses Obviously, a child can easily release the string, open the base, and after extending the houses arrange the same on the base in any desired mannon The houses may be made or decorated to simulate various types of buildings as shown in Fig. 11.

Still another modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 14-15 also as a miniature house, although the features about to be described may obviously be used in making a house of larger size, such as shown and described in connection with Figs. 1-6. This modification of the invention also permits making the house of a single blank, opposite panels of which 52 and 53, forming the roof and bottom respectively, are foldable upon themselves along creases 52', 53'. Either the front panel 54 or the back panel has the roof 5 2 and the bottom 53 hingedly connected therewith along creases, and either the top or bottom is provided with a tab which is adhesively. connected with the back or front panel, that is, if the front panel is connected by creases to panels 52 and 53 then the tab would be attached to the back panel, and vice versa. Elongated strips are hingedly connected to the back panel and are creased at 55 and 56 to provide a portion 51 hingedly connecting panels 58 and 59, each of which has a mitered top. The panel 59 has a tab 6Q adhesively connected to the inner surface of the front wall. The arrangement is the same at both ends of the blank. This structure may also be furnished fiat with the roof and bottom folded upon themselves and the front and back panels against each other. The lateral strips which provide the parts 57, 58, 59, also fold flatly down at the ends of the front and back panels. To extend the house, it is simply necessary to squeeze the creases 52', 53 toward each other and move the parts 53 and 59 into the structure, so that the mitered tops contact the interior of the roof. Stops in the nature of tabs 6| may be formed on the parts 58 to contact the ends of the front panel 54, so that the end closures 58 will not be pushed too far intothe structure. These tabs may be utilized in pulling the end closures out of the extended house when it is desired to collapse it.

I claim:

1. A collapsible toy house comprising hingedly connected panels forming opposite walls and ends of the house when extended, a roof hingedly connected to one of said panels, a floor or base also hingedly connected to said panel, a connection 5 between the roof and floor movable into the extended structure and providing for simultaneous movement of the roof and floor, said panels being collapsible into fiat condition in one direction and said roof and floor being collapsible into flat condition in another direction.

2. A collapsible toy house comprising hingedly connected panels forming opposite walls and ends of the house when extended, a roof hingedly connected to one of said panels, a floor or base also 0 hingedly connected to said panel, a connection between the roof and floor movable into the extended structure in frictional engagement with one of said panels and cooperating with said roof and floor to hold the house extended and pro- 5 viding for simultaneous movement of the roof and floor, said panels being collapsible into flat condition in one direction and said roof and floor being collapsible into fiat condition in another direction.

3. A collapsible toy house comprising hingedly connected panels forming the walls of the house roof and floor movable into the extended structure and providing for simultaneous movement of the roof and floor, said panels being collapsible into fiat condition in one direction and said roof and floor being collapsible into flat condition in another direction, said roof being of greater length than the panel to which it is connected whereby in extending the house the roof contacts the tops of other panels and constitutes a stop to movement of the floor and connection between the roof and floor.

4. A collapsible toy house comprising a strip creased at predetermined intervals to provide four hingedly connected panels to form the walls of the house, the ends or" the strip overlapping on one of said panels and being joined together, a roof of greater area than the cross sectional area of the house Walls swingably connected to one of the walls, a second strip secured to the roof and having a portion extending into the house and a portion extending across the house to form a floor, said portions being hingedly connected, and a connection between said floor and the panel to which the roof is connected, said first strip being collapsible in one direction and said second strip and roof in another direction.

5. A collapsible toy house comprising a strip creased at predetermined intervals to provide four hingedly connected panels to form the Walls of the house, the ends of the strip overlapping on one of said panels and being joined together, a roof of greater area than the cross sectional area of the house walls swingably connected to one of the walls, a second strip secured to the roof and having a portion extending into the house and a portion extending across the house to form a floor, said portions being hingedly connected, and a connection between said floor and the panel to which the roof is connected, said first strip 5 being collapsible in one direction and said second strip and roof in another direction, said sec ond strip being creased adjacent its connection to said panel and along another line parallel to said first crease where it joins said floor whereby 10 the part between said creases may move with the floor into engagement with said panel when the house is extended and away from said panel as the house is collapsed.

6. A blank for forming a collapsible toy house 15 comprising, a sheet including two strips arranged at right angles to each other and marked ofi to form lines defining on the strips panels hingedly connected upon folding said strips along said lines, the panels on one of said strips forming 20 front, back and end walls of the receptacle, and the panels on the other strip forming the roof and bottom with an intermediate panel connecting said roof and bottom and adapted to register with one of the panels of the first strip when :5 the structure is extended, means at the end of each of the strips to hold the panels in extended position forming the receptacle, the panels of said first strip when connected by said means being ioldable or collapsible into flat condition in so one direction, and the panels of the other strip being collapsible into flat condition in another direction.

FERDINAND MALLGRAF. 

